Bandoleer loading tool



Aug. 22, 19144. LA ACCOR 2,356,220l

' BANDOLEER LOADING TOOL Filed Aug. 12, 1945 INVENTOR LBQJDSUN A. Emmi.

ATTORN EYS Patented Aug. 22, 1944 UNITED STATES ENT OFFC.

2,356,220 A y BANDOLEER LOADING TOOL Application August 12, 1943, Serial No. 498,371

(Cl. Sii-47) 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a bandoleer opening tool, particularly for use in filling cartridge bandoleers with clips of cartridges, an object of the invention being to provide such a tool by means of which the lling operation is greatly facilitated and speeded up.

Cartridge bandoleers consist of a folded band of fabric material having a series of pockets normally closed by an overlapping cover flap, this flap being stitched down at the side edges of the individual pockets by the transverse rows of stitching across the band which divide it into the series of pockets. The usual practice in nlling the bandoleer with clips of cartridges consists in disengaging the edge of the pocket from beneath the cover flap, holding itin open position and inserting the cartridge clip over the cover flap into the pocket. Due to the pliability of the material, and the relatively snug t of the cartridge clip, this operation requires considerable dexterity in holding the cover ap down and the pocket open to engage the end of the clip therein preparatory to sliding it in place. As the cartridge clip is usually longer than the depth of the pocket, permitting it to project above the edge of the pocket to facilitate its removal, the margin of the cover ap is voverlapped by the overlying cartridge clip following the insertion of the clip into the pocket, and because of the securing of the ends of the cover ap by the stitching, and the relatively snug fit of the cartridge clip in the pocket, it is dicult and time consuming to grip with the fingers the edge of the iiap to disengage it from beneath the overlapping cartridge clip for the purpose of placing it in covering position over the end of the clip.

It is proposed, according to the present invention, to provide a tool having hook means for engaging the edge of the cover flap to place it beneath the edge of the pocket, and further having guide means for guiding the entrance of the cartridge clip into the pocket, such guide means providing a guard over the cover flap to prevent interference of the cover flap with the insertion of the clip.

It is further proposed to provide a tool which, during its withdrawal movement from the pocket, following insertion of the clip in the pocket, will grip the edge of the cover flap, thus removing the edge of the cover ap from beneath the overlapping end of the cartridge clip, and through con-- tinued movement of the tool carrying the cover flap into its covering position over the end of the cartridge clip.

With the above and other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claim.

y In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the bandoleer opening tool, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a bandoleer in flattened out position, two of its pockets having cartridgeclips enclosed therein, a third pocket showing the tool in operative position with the cartridge clip being inserted, and the other pockets being shown in their at unfilled condition.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View through the bandoleer pocket and showing the tool in its initial cover ap gripping position, the dotted arrow line showing the direction of movement of the tool to carry the edge of the cover flap beneath the edge of the pocket flap.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the tool in its inserted position in the pocket to provide a guide for the insertion of the cartridge clip.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the cartridge clip being inserted into the pocket.

Fig. 7 is a similar view, showing the cartridge clip inserted in the pocket and showing the disengagement of the cover ap from beneath the end of the cartridge clip through Withdrawal movement of the tool, the dot-and-dash lines showing the final covering position of the pocket nap to which it is moved by the movement of the tool from the position illustrated in full lines to the position illustrated indot-and-dash lines.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the cartridge bandoleer opening tool, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a strip of metal or other suitable material of generally rectangular form, bent along a transverse line intermediate its ends to provide an inclined handle portion l0 and a cartridge clip guiding portion il disposed at an obtuse downward angle to the handle portion, so that the tool when engaged upon a flat surface presents an arched form. This arched form has for its purpose facilitating handling of the tool during the lling operation, as well as to bring about its proper cooperation with the bandoleer and the clip, as will presently more fully appear. At the end of the guide portion I I the strip is bent back upon itself to provide a hook-shaped lip I2 disposed at the under side, this lip being preferably disposed in spaced parallel relation to the guide portion I I.

The cartridge bandoleer, to be lled through the use of the tool, consists of a strip of suitable fabric material folded along longitudinal parallel lines to provide a bottom portion I3, a pocket ap portion I4, and a cover flap portion I5 which overlaps the edge of the pocket ap portion. The longitudinal edges of the pocket ilap and cover flap portions are hemmed under, as at I6 and I'I, and the bandoleer is divided into a series of cartridge clip receiving pockets by transverse rows of stitching I8, these rows of stitching extending entirely across the bandoleer and securing down the side edges of the pocket ap and cover flap portions of the individual pockets. A suitable carrying strap I9 is secured to the ends of the bandoleer.

The cartridge clip, illustrated by way of eX- ampl'e, consists of a metal clip member 20 in which the head ends of a plurality of cartridges 2I are secured, the particular clip shown carrying eight cartridges arranged in two rows with the cartridges of one row staggered with respect to those of the other row, the clip and the cartridges being encased in a cardboard cover 22. It will be understood that the'inventionmay be utilized for filling bandoleers of the general type illustrated with any of the usual types Aof cartridge clips. The cartridge clip is of tapering form and is inserted in the pocket of the bandoleer with its contracted end foremost, the length of the clip being such that in its engaged position in the pocket its Wide end projects slightly beyond the edge of the pocket flap, to facilitate its convenient removal.

In the, operation of filling the bandoleer with cartridge clips, the bandoleer is laid upon a flat surface and the operator rst engages the hook end I2l of the tool with the overlapping edge of the cover flap I5 of therindividual pocket being filled, and as shownY inY Fig. 4, Thereupon the tool is retracted to carry the edge of the cover flap out of overlapping-relation andy to engage the guide portion II of the tool withinthe pocket beneath the pocket flap v I4, this movement of the tool beingV indicated by the'dotted, arrow in Fig. 4. The width of the tool is substantially less ythan the Width of the pocket, so that Vthis operation may be' conveniently carried' out without interference of thel overlapping end portions of the pocket and cover flaps contiguous to' the transverse stitching lines, it being pointed out thatl inthe inserted position of the too1,'as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the ends of the cover ap ,remain in overlapping relation over the ends of'theraised" pocket flap.

The arched form of the tool facilitates its manipulation through the spacing of its intermediate portion above the flap work surface to enable it to be grasped at its edges, provides an inclined guide for the insertion of the cartridge clip in the pocket, and maintains the hook end I2 in engagement with the bottom I3 of the handoleer during the filling operation, and during withdrawal of the tool to insure its reengagement with the edge of the pocketilap, `as will presently more fully appear. With the tool in the inserted position, as shown in Fig. 5, the upper surface of the inclined guide portion I2 provides a guide for the convenient insertion of the cartridge clip, as shown in Fig. 6, and the under surface provides a guard for the edge of the cover ap, so that it isretained against interference with the insertion of the clip. When the clip is inserted fully in the pocket, as shown in Fig. 7, the tool is withdrawn and the hook end I 2, which is held in close sliding engagement with the bottom I3 of the pocket through the wedging effect between the inserted clip and the inclined guide portion of the tool, picks up the edge of the pocket flap drawing it from. beneath the end of the inserted clip, as shown in Fig. '7. The tool is thereupon swung upwardly and forwardly carrying the cover flap to its covering position in overlapping relation to the edge of the socket flap, as shown by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. '7,V the tool being nally unhooked from the edge of the cover flap.

The form of the invention illustrated in the drawing and described herein is typical and i1- lustrative only, and it is evident that the invention is capable of embodiments in other forms, all falling within the scope of the appended claim, which is to be broadly construed.

What is claimed is:

A tool for filling cartridge bandoleers with cartridge clips, fsaid bandoleers having a series of pockets each comprising a bottom portion, a pocket flap portion and a cover flap portion normally overlapping'the edge of said pocket flap portion, said tool comprising an elongatedy arm member, of ilat strip material of substantially less width than the width of one of said bandoleer pockets and having two substantially straight portions defining an angular arched form. between its ends to provide a forward guide portion inclined downwardly with respect to a rearward handle portion, and having at the under side of its forward end a rearwardly extending hook portion adapted for engaging the edge of the coverilap to manipulate it around the edge of the pocket ap, said arm member being insertable in a pocket of s aid bandoleer beneath said pocket flap and having at its said guide portion an under face adapted while inserted in saidpocket to be disposed over said cover ap and an upper face constituting an inclined guide surface' for guiding a cartridge clip into said pocket.

JUDSON A. COOK. 

